textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 211 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

- Chance of thunderstorms northwestern half of the Panhandles with cooler air this afternoon. Continued hot southeastern half with Heat Advisory in effect.

- Heat wave will continue with extreme heat possible far eastern areas from Friday through the first of next week.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 211 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Latest surface observations showing several boundaries across the area. Initial outflow from this morning has moved south of AMA and appears to be washing out as drier southwesterly flow at the surface has become re-established over the southern and southwest CWA. Dewpoints in the upper 40s extend from just south of PPA south and southwestward back into NM. However, secondary boundary with low to mid 60 dewpoints exists across the northern TX and OK Panhandles. With better CAPE values associated with the higher dewpoints and as the flow becomes more easterly behind the narrow secondary boundary over the central TX Panhandle a region of better cape and shear will exist over this area this afternoon and evening. SPC has a marginal risk of severe over this area however they have included a significant wind threat which gets the far western OK and northwestern TX Panhandle area. Satellite and radar imagery this afternoon showing convective development underway over the Raton Mesa/Sangre de Cristo mountain range and as this convection evolves and moves east expect some isolated pockets of severe winds to move into our northwestern CWA this evening. Convection should wane overnight but leave residual boundaries which could focus renewed development primarily tomorrow afternoon.

Aside from the convective potential the big news for the next several days will be the prolonged heat and possibility of extreme heat over the southeast and Palo Duro Canyon areas. Yesterday Wellington reached 109 but this afternoon and Thursday should be couple degrees cooler.

LONG TERM

(Friday through next Tuesday) Issued at 211 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

As the upper high/ridge amplify Friday into the weekend would expect some very hot temperatures, especially in favored areas. Heat headlines will be needed and will need to monitor and evaluate whether we will need an extreme heat warning for portions of our southeast and/or PDC in the next few days.

Some models were wanting to show some convection on Friday as convective temps are reached (and possibly a residual boundary), but at this time the thought is this a low prob scenario and will not mention it at this time. GFS is showing this pattern to persist for the next 7-10 days with maybe some hints of it beginning to shift or break down by the beginning of September. So the heat wave will continue until that time.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 200 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Lower clouds breaking up in the northern panhandle but the TAF sites look to be VFR for the remainder of the afternoon into the evening. Southeast winds have become established at GUY, east- southeast at DHT while a mesoscale boundary has temporarily shifted winds at AMA to the northwest. Expect to see the southwest winds return within the next hour or two. If convection this evening can hold together long enough could see some strong winds late this evening. On Thursday there is a low prob chance of thunderstorms in the aftn to the south and west of AMA but the main story will be the hot weather until further notice.

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for TXZ010-014-015- 018>020-317.

OK...None.